Tom cullity 2017 (Vasse Felix)

Drink now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant before serving. Dr Tom Cullity is regarded as a true visionary in Margaret River for founding the region’s first modern winery here in 1962. He recognised the potential of the cool climate terroir for producing exceptional and elegant wines based on classic French varietals. Today the estate has four prized vineyards which are all farmed using minimal intervention methods to produce the best quality fruit possible. This iconic cuvee celebrates Dr Tom himself and is crafted from the original Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec vines that he planted here in the 1960s. The fruit is carefully selected from small sections of his original blocks and harvested żeby hand before being fermented with wild yeasts. The individual varieties are then aged in French oak barrels for 18 months before the final blend is created. Intense dark cherry, cassis and ripe berries dominate on the nose while the first sip reveals a punchy structure, firm tannins and a solid core of black fruit. The finish is long and seductive with plenty of crushed wild berry notes and hints of toast, spice and oak from the ageing process. A handsome cuvee to serve with rich red meat dishes or to cellar for a few more years.